IMO to implement sulphur cap from 2020, LNG as fuel ready

The global cap on sulphur content for marine fuels will come into effect from January 2020, following the decision by International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environmental Protection Committee. 

Finnish engine manufacturer, Wärtsilä, believes the trend towards the use of LNG fuel as a viable means of complying with the sulphur cap requirements, especially since LNG contains no sulphur, will further increase.

“The global cap will limit the sulphur content of marine fuels to 0.5 percent, meaning that the world’s shipping fleets will need to either change to a cleaner fuel such as LNG, or install abatement systems,” Wärtsilä said.

It represents a significant cut from the 3.5 percent global limit currently in place, IMO informed following the meeting in London, on Friday.

The date of 2020 was agreed in amendments adopted in 2008, when it was also agreed that a review should be undertaken by 2018 in order to assess whether sufficient compliant fuel oil would be available to meet the 2020 date. If not, the date could be deferred to 2025.

That review was completed in 2016 and concluded that sufficient compliant fuel oil would be available to meet the fuel oil requirements.

In its recent statement, SEALNG, a cross-industry coalition that aims to promote LNG as a marine fuel, said that the LNG sector is capable of meeting the future emissions requirement of the global shipping industry.

Coalition’s chairman, Peter Keller, before the MEPC’s decision was made, said, “Independent of the timing of the IMO’s implementation of the 0.5% global sulphur cap, today LNG is already a clean, safe, practical and economically viable fuel for the shipping industry.”

The coalition further noted that there are already 86 LNG-fueled ships in operation worldwide with another 95 on order.

LNG World News Staff